First report of the chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, 1919 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Turkey

* Correspondence: eatakan@gmail.com Climate change, globalization, and open agricultural trade have resulted in the increasing importance of invasive species as recurrent problems throughout the world. Most of the thrips species are considered among the most invasive species in the world due to their small size, ability to reach high numbers shortly, cryptic behavior, and egg laying inside plant tissue (e.g., all Terebrantia) (Morse and Hoddle, 2006). Approximately 6000 thrips species, in which 1% of the total members of Thysanoptera order were reported as serious pests, have been well described with their diverse life histories and habitats (Morse and Hoddle, 2006; Mound and Morris, 2007). The genus Scirtothrips Shull contains more than 100 species, among which ten species are often regarded as important pests of agricultural crops (Rugman-Jones et al., 2006). Their unique reproductive potential and capability for invasion integrated with easy adaptation to newly invaded areas make Scirtothrips species a major concern for agriculture in many countries (Hoddle et al., 2008). Among this genus, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood 1919 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), which are commonly known as the chilli thrips or yellow tea thrips, are a highly polyphagous pest of economically important vegetable, ornamental, and fruit crops in Asia, Oceania, Africa, and America (Ananthakrishnan, 1993; Kumar et al., 2012; CABI, 2013; Dickey et al., 2015). Many researchers have reported that S. dorsalis originated in either Southeast Asia or in the Indian subcontinent, but since the late 1990s it has been widely distributed to Europe (England, Netherlands, Spain), Middle East (Iran, Israel, Saudi Arabia), Asia (Indonesia, Japan), Central Africa (Côte d’Ivoire, Uganda, Kenya), and the New World (USA, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad, and Venezuela) (CABI, 2013; Minaei et al., 2015; EPPO, 2020). In the last two decades, this pest has spread around by transporting plant materials infested by this pest thrips, such as propagules, cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, and through its natural dispersion by the wind (Seal et al., 2010; Kumar et al., 2013). Following the introduction into the New World, the host range of S. dorsalis increased up to more than 225 plant taxa in 72 different families (GPDD, 2011). Although the main host plants of this pest belong to the family Fabaceae, it can attack mainly economically important agricultural crops including chilli, tea, banana, bean, citrus, cocoa, corn, cotton, eggplant, grapes, mango, melon, peanut, rose, strawberry, sweet potato, tobacco, and tomato throughout the world (Garrett, 2004; Venette and Davis, 2004; Patel et al., 2009; Reitz et al., 2011). Some of the reasons as to why it is a successful invader could be due to its wide distribution and having a large number of host plants globally. In India, S. dorsalis was considered one of the most crucial factors that restricted the chilli production, and the damage of this pest alone can reach up to 74% (Patel et al., 2009). Moreover, this pest is considered a major concern to tea, grape, and citrus production in Japan (Kodomari 1978; Masui, 2007; Shibao et al., 2004). In addition, Garrett (2004) reported that due to its invasion into the Caribbean region (U.S.A), S. dorsalis caused crop losses on 28 important host plants, costing approximately $3 billion to the US economy. Abstract: The chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood, 1919 (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was reported for the first time in Adana Province, Turkey in October, 2020 on blueberries [Vaccinium myrtillus L. (Ericaceae)]. Its heavy infestation was detected on the vegetative parts of the blueberries. In this short communication, a brief summary of its diagnosis and damage as well as its economic importance in the region is provided.